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Twitter -- The Power of Hashtags (#) in Twitter
KarlKasca
Twitter is great, but sometimes it seems like random tweets in the wilderness. Here's how to bring organizing power to Twitter so you can bring attention and findability to you and your business. TABLE OF CONTENTS
Skip to Video - Note: Since there may be more info of interest/use on the page below, you should at least skim it quickly in addition to viewing the Video below. What are "hashtags" OR "hash tags"?Hashtags/hash tags are a way to group subjects, news, or events (like conventions) in Twitter so they can be found and tracked easily in Twitter searches. Hashtags can also be used for Twitter chat sessions. Example of a hashtag: #marketing - where "marketing" is the subject. Anatomy of a hashtag: Pound & tag, or Hash & tag In the example above, "marketing" is the subject/tag and #marketing is the hashtag. Why should I use hashtags? What do hashtags do (for me/my business)?You should use hashtags to group things in Twitter like your company name (or an abbreviation of it), your product(s), your industry, etc. Example (Company name): #microsoft = IncreaseOnlineProfits news - to keep up with Rick and Karl's tweets. #yourcompanyname - Note: But remember to keep it short, as the name is subtracted from the 140 characters available for your tweet! Example (Product): #iphone Example (Industry): #telecom Example (Convention): #sxsw (South by Southwest convention) How do I use hashtags? (ACTION STEPS)QUICK ACTION STEPS (Could be dangerous/confusing if others are using the same hashtags for other things/meanings).
RECOMMENDED ACTION STEPS (Take a few more minutes and check out if others are already using your hashtags)
Where can I see what Hashtags are popular (top trending topics), or in use?There are many ways and more are being created every day. Here are some you can try: Twitterfall.com - Twitter hashtags and trends. Can set-up Custom search. Note: Can be resource intense! Twitscoop.com - Tweet "clouds" showing what's "buzzing right now" in Twitter. Can also search for hashtags. Hashtags.org - Search for hashtags. Note: Doesn't always work (isn't always "up"). Monitter.com - Monitor/search 3 words in Twitter at once - very cool! Twemes.com - "Twitter memes - global tags for Twitter" @WeFollow - Twitter Directory. What the Hashtag?! - Twitter hashtag encyclopedia. What are Twitter Chats?Twitter chats are places you can go to have "real time" chats with others in Twitter about particular topics. Tweetchat.com (E.g., #journchat & #gno)After you already know what hashtag you want to follow, then go to: Tweetchat.com, enter your Twitter name and passoword, and then enter the hashtag for the chat, e.g., #journchat.- Note: #journchat is a Twitter chat about Journalism/Public Relations (PR) that occurs every Monday evening from 8:00-11:00pm ET. - #journchat Info. - Journchat Twitter Profile. FYI: Another large Tweetchat is "GirlsNightOut" (#gno). What is a Tweetup?A "Tweetup" is a "Twitter Meetup" - a real-time face-to-face place where you can meet others who Twitter, usually announced on Twitter (using a hashtag for the event/meeting). For instance, after the Gravity Summit conference, there was a meeting at a local restaurant/bar. Prior to the Tweetup the after-conference meeting's time and location was tweeted using the #gravsum hashtag. Then both people at the event, or who were just following the event via Twitter showed up at the meeting/mixer/party. Where are Rick and Karl on Twitter?Here's where you can find us in the Twitterverse/Twittersphere: www.twitter.com/rickhenkin - Rick's Twitter profile - @rickhenkin (send message to Rick & his followers) www.twitter.com/karlkasca - Karl's Twitter profile - @karlkasca (send message to Karl & his followers) #iopnews = IOPnews = IncreaseOnlineProfits news = @IOPnews * (send message to IOPnews & our followers) * Note: We mainly grabbed the #iopnews subject to stake out a Twitter site for a short version of our company name. --> We recommend that you do this too! (Stake your name out now before someone else grabs it!). #iop = IncreaseOnlineProfits (but also used by some other nefarious organizations/tweeters for a variety of subjects/orgs!) #nmmucla = Teaching New Media Marketing at UCLA Extension blog - Karl's blog #smmucla = Teaching Social Media Marketing at UCLA Extension blog - Most posts by Beverly Macy (Karl's co-instructor of Social Media). ResourcesAdvanced Twitter Search Advanced Twitter Search Operators (Search for hash tags, or "near" your location, or for particular dates). VIDEO on Twitter - The Power of Hash Tags (#) in TwitterARTICLE DATE: 03/16/09 REVISED DATE:
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